Manually propelled water shoes



April 3, 1962 s. R. FINES MANUALLY PROPELLED WATER SHOES 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Sept. 21, 1959 INVENTOR A ril 3, 1962 s R. FINES MANUALLYPROPELLED WATER SHOES 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Sept. 21, 1959 m v/ m 5 w 43 INVENTOR 3,027,576 MANUALLY PROPELLED WATER SHOES Samuel Ross Fines,401 Parkside Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed Sept. 21, 1959, Ser.No. 841,063 3 Claims. (Cl. 9-310) This invention relates to sportingdevices and, more particularly, to water shoes of the type designed tobe propelled through the water by the use of ski poles or drawn throughthe water by a motorboat.

The sport of water-skiing has become increasingly popular among peopleskilled in this art but has certain disadvantages in that only personswith a considerable agility, balance and swimming ability are able toindulge in this sport. Pontoons of various kinds have been devised tomake the sport of water-skiing adaptable to be practised by persons lessskilled in this art, but such pontoons have had the disadvantage ofbeing cumbersome and difficult to manoeuvre.

Other'water skis have been devised containing rudder attachments guidedby lines held by the skier or by tipable foot rests that, upon beingtipped forward, would turn the rudder to one side, and upon being tippedbackward, would turn the rudder to the other side. These systems havethe disadvantage that tipping of the skis during the skiing procedurewill involuntarily turn the rudder when this is not desired orinvoluntary pull on the lines during the skiing procedure will causeundesired turning of the rudder, causing spills, etc.

' It is an object of this invention to provide a water shoe in theconfiguration of a pontoon which will have auto matic rudder means.

. It is another object of this invention to provide a water shoesupplied with rudder means that will not involuntarily be actuated.

' It is another object of this invention to provide a water shoe in theform of a pontoon in which the foothold is situated below the centre ofgravity of the pontoon, tending to keep the pontoon upright at alltimes.

It is another object of this invention to provide a water shoe in theform of a pontoon in which tipping of the body of the water-skier to oneside will automatically cause the water shoe to veer to the same side.

It is furthermore an object of this invention to provide a water shoe inthe form of a pontoon in which the rudder means automatically willstraighten out the direction of the water shoe as the body of theoperator is brought upright.

It is another object of this invention to provide a water shoe in theform of a pontoon with automatic rudder means in which flow of waterpast said rudder means is utilized in aiding said rudder means to changethe direction of the water-ski as it is propelled through the water.

It is also an object of this invention to provide water shoes in theform of pontoons that may be propelled over the water by water-skistaves supplied with pertinent thrust means at one end, adapted to beforceably thrust against the water to propel the water-skier forward.

It is another object of this invention to provide water shoes in theform of pontoons with automatic rudder means in which the automaticchange of direction can be assisted, put out of action or counteractedby the skier at will as he leans to one side, tipping the water shoessideways.

These and other objects and features of this invention will becomeapparent when taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the skier utilizing a pair assistsPatented Apr. 3, 1962 of water shoes embodying this invention beingdrawn through the water by a motorboat or similar vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a skier utilizing a pair of water shoesembodying this invention, propelling him self through the water by aidof water-ski poles as embodied in this invention.

FIG. 3 is a mid-vertical sectional side elevation of a water shoeembodying one configuration of this invention.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the water shoe shown in H6. 3.

FIG. 5 is a reverse plan view of the water shoe shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a water shoe embodying anotherconfiguration of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a reverse plan view of the water shoe shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a water shoe embodying a thirdconfiguration of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a reverse plan view of the water shoe shown in FIG. 8.

PEG. 10 is a side elevation of a water shoe embodying I a fourthconfiguration of this invention.

FIG. 11 is a reverse plan view of the water shoe shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a mid-vertical part-sectional side elevation of a water-shoepole embodied in this invention comprising a buoyant pole end.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the water-shoe pole shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14- is a mid-vertical part-sectional side elevation of a water-shoepole embodied in this invention compris ing an open cup end attached tothe pole through a universal joint.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the water-shoe pole shown FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a side view of a third configuration of a water-shoe poleembodied in this invention comprising a cup-shaped end attached rigidlyto the pole.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the water-shoe pole shown in FIG. 16.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a person 1 is shown being drawn by, forinstance, a motorboat through handle 2 upon water shoe 4 being tipped toone side or the other.

Both water shoes of the pair are of identical configuration, water shoe3 containing a flexible weighted rudder 9 identical to flexible rudder 5on water shoe 4.

Water shoes 3 and 4 are watertight and buoyant being hollow and filledwith air or made of buoyant material. The person 1 utilizing Water shoes3 and 4 places his right and left foot into hollow compartments w and iirespectively, resting his feet in a suitable foothold in each ofcompartments it and 11.1 at a location below centre of gravity of watershoes 3 and t, the footholds being adapted to slip off the feet easilyupon the person 1 encountering a spill.

The person 1 being drawn through the water by a motorboat, uponrequiring to turn to one side or the other, needs only lean to the sideto which he requires to turn, tipping water shoes 3 and 4 to therequired side, causing the Weighted ends 8 of flexible ruddersS and 9,through action of gravity thereon, to swing out to the same side,thereby creating a drag on the water rushing past the water shoes on theturn side, and a suction effect on the opposite side of flexible rudders5 and 9 causing the water shoes to turn in the required direction.

Referring to FIG. 2, a person 12 is shown utilizing a pair of watershoes 13 and 14 embodying this invention, propelling himself through thewater by the aid of a pair of water-shoe poles 15 and 16 embodied inthis invention. By placing cup ends 17 and 18 on the surface of thewater and thrusting backwards on cup ends 17 and 18 through poles 15 and16, person 12 will propel himself through the water being held up bybuoyant water shoes 13 and 1-4 of configuration as explained above inFIG. 1.

Turning or curving in course of progression on these water shoes-i3 and14 can be accomplished by thrusting more powerfully on one pole than onthe other, the person 12 at the same time tilting his body and the watershoes to the side to which he requires to turn, whereby weightedflexible rudders 19 and 20, through action of gravitational force, willswing to the turn side, thereby facilitating turning action of the watershoes.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a buoyant water shoe 23 is shownembodying a footwell 24 located substantially centrally along the lengthof water shoe 23 and adapted to receive internally of its bottom surfacea suitable foothold 25. Situated co-incident with the longitudinalcentre line of the water shoe 23 and rigidly attached to the bottomsurface of water shoe 23 in conventional manner is a keel 26 terminatingat its aft end 27 in a hingeably attached flexible rudder 28 which isattached to the water shoe only at keel end 27 and has rigidly attachedto its extreme aft end, a streamlined weighted mass 29.

Flexible rudder 28 is therefore free to swing sideways with its aft endas dictated by weight 29 and is through conventional aligning meansadapted to align itself automatically parallel with the direction ofkeel- 26 at times when no gravitational forces act to flex rudder 28sideways.

Referringto FIGS. 6 and 7, another method of embodying this invention ina water shoe is shown comprisingbuoyant water shoe 3t) fitted with afootwell 31 and keel 32. A rudder 33 of substantially non-lexibiematerial is rotatably mounted on a shaft 34 which is rigidly andperpendicularly attached below water shoe 3%) and located in a planecontaining keel 32, rudder 33 being mounted on shaft 34 at a locationforward of the longitudinal centre of rudder 34. A streamlined weightedmass 35 is rigidly attached to the extreme aft end of the rudder 33.

A further method of embodying this invention in a water shoe is shown inFIG. 8 and FIG. 9 in which a buoyant water shoe 36 embodies a footwell37 and keel 38. A rudder 39 of substantially non-flexible material isrotatably mounted on a shaft 44] which is rigidly attached below watershoe 36 in a plane containing keel 38, and at an angle inclined to theperpendicular with the bottom of water shoe 36, rudder 39 being mountedon shaft 48 at a location forward of the longitudinal centre of rudder39,. a streamlined weight 41 being rigidly secured to the extreme aftend of rudder 33.

Action of rudder 33 in FIGS. 6 and 7 and rudder 39 in FIGS. 8 and 9depends on weights 35 and 41 respectively, rudders 33 and 39 being heldin a plane common to keels 32 and 38 respectively, partly through actionof the water flowing by the water shoes as these are driven straightahead and partly by graviatational force acting straight downward. Uponwater shoes 3% and 36 being tipped sideways, gravity acting on weights35 and 41 will force the aft end of rudders 33 and 39 respectively tomove to the side to which the water shoes are tipped, thereby creating adrag on the water at that side of the water shoe tending to turn thewater shoes in the direction towards which the water shoe is tipped.

As aft portion of rudders 33 and 32 are turned toward the tipped side ofthe water shoe, the forward end of rudders 33 and 39 will turn to theopposite side, thereby entering the stream of water passing along theopposite side of the water shoe, this water therefore being deflectedalong the rudders 33 and 39 giving an added turn-- ing moment to thewater shoe in the direction towards which this is tipped. Thus it isseen that upon tipping the water shoes to one side, the weights willswing the rudders to the same side, whereby the forward edges of saidrudders are caused to engage the stream on the opposite side, thisadditional water resistance providing a hydrodynamic counterbalance tosome of the water resistance arising on the weighted (i.e. tilted) side,thereby canceling some of the turning moment opposing that of the tiltedweight, to facilitate the action thereof. Turning moment of rudders 33'and 39 can be varied by varying the inclination of shafts 34 and 40respectively and by varying the location of shafts 34 and '40 withrespect to the longitudinal centre and the forward end of rudders 34 and39.

Another method of embodying this invention in a water shoe is shown inFIG. 10 and FIG. 11 in which a buoyant water shoe 42 is shown embodyinga footwell 43. A foothold 44 is rotatably located in well 43, beingrigidly secured to a vertical rotatable shaft 45 which projectsvertically downward through a watertight seal in the bottom of watershoe 42. Rigidly attached to the lower end of shaft 45 is a rudder 46attached to shaft 45 at a location forward of its longitudinalmid-point. The keel 47 is located below water shoe 42 in a verticalplane common with the neutral position of rudder 46 and interrupted fora portion of its length to accommodate rudder 46 and permit rudder 46 toturn to either side. One endof rudder 46 is loaded. by a weight 48 uponwhich gravity may act to providev automatic action of rudder as watershoe is tipped to one side or the other.

A' water-skier using the water shoe 42 would place his foot on foothold44. By tippingwater shoe 42 sideways as it moves forward, gravityacting, on weight 48 would tend toturn: the rudder and thereby changedirection of the water shoe. By twisting his leg, the water-skier couldpermit the foothold. to turn, through thegravitational force, givinghim. the. possibility of controlling the turning radius of the watershoe 42 by holding back against the gravitational pull on weight 48 orby aiding the gravitational pull by twisting his legs more than dictatedby the gravitational pull; on weight 48, thereby permitting the skier tocounteract the turning action caused by the gravitational pull ontherudder weight 48 upon tipping shoes sideways and permitting him tocontinue straight forward even though water shoes are tipped sideways,or to exaggerate the turning moment if so required.

In all cases described above in FIGS. 3-41,, the normal positions forrudders-28, 33, 39 and 46 would be a posi' tion parallel to thelongitudinal axis of water shoes 23, 30, 36 and 42 which would beparallel to the direction of motion of the water shoes through thewater. Action of water streaming past the sides of the water shoes willautomatically keep all rudders in this normal position as long as nogravitational force acts to turn the rudders to one side or the other.Thus, only a conscious act on the part of the skier such as tippingwater shoes to one side or the other would cause the rudders to turn andthus change direction of the water shoe. Thereby, spills in the waterdue to uncontrollable actions on the part of the skier are avoided.

In order to propel the water shoes embodying this invention through thewater, a pair of water-shoe poles are utilized adapted to be held one ineach hand having thrust means attached to the lower end of eachwater-shoe pole adapted to be thrust against the surface of the water inorder to create a reaction adapted to propel the waterskier and thewater shoes over the surface of the water.

A water-shoe pole embodied in this invention is shown in FIG. 12 andFIG. 13 comprising a substantially poleshapedmember 49 having a strap 50attached to one end adapted to be held by the hand or the wrist whenpole 49 is grasped: at its upper end. The end of pole member 19 oppositeto the end attached to strap 50 has a buoyant watertight tank 51 locatedrigidly secured to pole 49. Volume of tank 51 is such as to providesuificient buoyancy on the waters surface combined with surface area onthe bottom of the tank 51 to provide sufficient reaction force for thewater-skier to propel himself forward by thrusting against the surfaceof the water through pole 49 and tank 51.

Another method of embodying this invention in a water-shoe pole is shownin FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, in which pole member 52 is supplied at its upperend with a strap 53, having at its lower end a universal swivel joint 55to which an inverted cup 54 is attached, cup 54 being adapted to bethrust against the surface of the water, trapping air therein and givinga firm resistant thrust action on the surface of the water to providepropelling action for the water-skier.

Referring to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, another method of embodying thisinvention in a ski pole is shown wherein the water-shoe pole member 56,having at its upper end a strap 5'7, the lower end of pole 56terminating in a foldable umbrella-like inverted cup 58 attached to thelower end of pole 56. The umbrella-like cup 58 has the advantage thatduring the thrusting motion, the cup would be extended to its fulldiameter trapping air on the surface of the water and supplying a largeend area for water resistance, whereas the umbrella-like cup, upon beingwithdrawn upwards from the water, is adapted to fold together tofacilitate such withdrawal from the water.

It will be understood that the design of the water shoes and water-shoepoles embodied in this invention can be varied while still retaining thenovel features of this invention and the side action of the ruddersembodied in this invention can be limited in their turning movement byconventional means to prevent excess turning of the water shoes whichmight create a spill hazard for the water-skier.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Manually propelled water shoes comprising a pair of identical buoyantelongated pontoon bodies, each body of said shoes having a keel attachedvertically thereunder, parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, a wellsunk into the top of said body, said well being located substantiallycentrally of the longitudinal axis thereof, foothold means attached atthe bottom of said well at a location below the centre of gravity ofsaid body, hingeably attached rudder means located below said body,hinge axis of said hingeably attached rudder means being located in aplane common to a plane containing said keel, said hinge axis beinglocated intermediate the two ends of said rudder means to provide asubstantial but smaller portion of said rudder means forward of saidhinge axis for hydrodynamic counterbalancing purposes, and a largerrudder means portion aft of said hinge axis and weight means attachedsubstantially toward the aft end of said rudder means.

2. Manually propelled water shoes as claimed in claim 1 in which saidhinge axis of said rudder means is located perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said shoe.

3. Manually propelled water shoes as claimed in claim 1 in which saidhinge axis is inclined from perpendicularity with said longitudinal axisof said shoe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS986,979 Hellmann Mar. 14, 1911 2,153,939 Schaupp Apr. 11, 1939 2,716,246Billingham H Aug. 30, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 400,539 Germany Aug. 19, 1924647,760 Germany July 12, 1937 376,861 Italy Nov. 29, 1939 598.799 GreatBritain Sept. 21, 1948

